The Education is Power Team

Dave Cuddy, Executive Director and Co-founder

Dave Cuddy holds a diploma in Outdoor Leadership and Small Business. His experience in Africa began with a six month Canada World Youth international education program he completed in 2007. He has over seven years experience working in Kenya and dealing with the Kenyan education system. His primary responsibility is to oversee all aspects of EIP operations. This involves working with Kenyan government officials and community leaders to develop methodologies to achieve goals of the Kenya 2030 development plan, as well as fundraising, dealing with EIP student and teacher issues, and supervising EIP volunteers. Dave establishes criteria to form new EIP committees and country chapters. He is also responsible for developing international partnerships to help promote the project. In addition to working for Education is Power, he is an Outdoor Educator at Strathcona Park Lodge, British Columbia.

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David Kuria, Chief Advisor and Co-founder

David Kuria is from Kimende, Kenya. He founded KENVO (The Kijabe Environment Volunteers) in 1994. Currently he works as the executive director of KENVO, working together with the United Nations Environment Program. David devotes a great deal of his spare time to work with Dave Cuddy and ensure that EIP operations are as effective as possible, while upholding local cultural identities. David holds a Bachelor in Biology and a Master’s in Environmental Science and Community Development. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Conservation and Community Activism.

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Ken Cuddy, Head Financial Officer

Ken Cuddy (father of Dave Cuddy) holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and graduate degree in law. He has worked as a lawyer in Perth, Ontario, Canada for 35 years. He has volunteered countless hours to the administration and all financial dealings of Education is Power since it began in 2008.

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Robyn Penfold, Education Development and Communications Officer

Robyn is a primary school teacher in British Columbia, Canada. She holds a bachelor of education with a diploma in special education and an undergraduate in psychology. Robyn teaches in a remote aboriginal community in Vancouver Island North. She is well experienced in adapting education practices to meet the needs of diverse cultures while upholding the cultural heritage and identity of these diverse cultures. Her experience is invaluable for EIP’s teacher support and training programs in Kenya, as well as designing EIP study projects to meet curriculum objectives of Canadian primary and secondary schools. She also assists in communications and copywriting.

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Samuel Wakang’u Kiarie, EIP Kenya Outreach Officer

Samuel is from Kimende, Kenya. He started at KENVO as an avid volunteer and then became a project officer for youth and school programs. He has participated in two Canada World Youth International Education programs. Samuel was a major inspiration to start EIP as he became our founding student (along with Stephen Kamau). Thanks to EIP, Samuel completed a Bachelor of Science and Environmental Education, and he is now pursuing a Masters in Environmental Studies and Community Development at Kenyatta University. Samuel coordinates meetings, mentors and communicates with students and volunteers much of his time in countless ways for EIP.

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Zipporah Mugure, EIP Kenya Financial Officer

Zipporah is from Kimende, Kenya where in 2003 she started as a volunteer with a Kenyan non-profit group called KENVO (The Kijabe Environment Volunteers). Zipporah went on to become a project supervisor for Canada World Youth and to work for KENVO as their chief financial officer. She continues to work for KENVO while dedicating her time as a volunteer for Education is Power. Together with David Kuria, she oversees all EIP financial records in Kenya. She is in her final year of a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance.

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Stephen Kamau, Kenya Operations Director and Co-founder

Stephen is from Kimende, Kenya. He is one of the founding students of Education is Power and was first inspired after participating in a Canada World Youth International Exchange. Stephen is a very committed volunteer for Education is Power. He coordinates the High School Mentors program in Kenya and leads several projects to connect Canadians and Kenyans. Stephen is currently finishing his Tourism Management Degree Program from Moi University.

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Kip Ntere, Operations Director – Laikipia Region, Kenya

Kip started volunteering with Education is Power in 2014 and in this remote area of Kenya, many students would not be able to gain sponsorship without his determined efforts. Kip uses his contacts as a private wildlife guide to coordinate engaging and valuable empowerment weeks for EIP students. He also ensures communication between current students and Canadian sponsors, not a simple feat in an area where cell reception is spotty and Wi-Fi can only be found in bigger town centres.

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The extended Education is Power team

In reality Education is Power is made possible by the help of a lot of people. In Kenya we have our main partner KENVO (The Kijabe Environment Volunteers – a partner of Canada World Youth, www.kenvokenya.com). Many KENVO members help EIP in various ways such as organizing events and community awareness in Kenya as well as guidance and support for EIP students. In Canada there have been many people who have volunteered a great deal towards organizing successful EIP fundraisers and other fundraising support.

Photo: Education is Power committee, Kimende, Kenya, February 2013

Photo: Education is Power event volunteers, Campbell River BC, October 2013

Project

Education is Power, a registered Canadian charity, is a volunteer run organization based in Kenya, Tanzania and Canada. Our mandate is to improve access to effective education for Africa’s future leaders.